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Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

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Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#31

Post by habosa »

In many discussions like this I see the argument that some/most/all homeless people are drug addicts or mentally ill or otherwise not deserving of help.

I have always been of the opinion that I don't care why someone is homeless, I would like to help them. There is nobody that deserves to live on the street in a nation with as much wealth as America, even if they've made bad decisions (drugs, alcohol, crime, etc.). I think it's our job as a society to put a roof over everyone's head to the best of our abilities, it's inhuman to pick and dodge among homeless people and go about our lives like it is normal.

If I could solve any problem in my lifetime, it would be homelessness in America. I wish I had any idea where to start. I know it's not as noble of a cause as curing cancer or helping the needy who live in true poverty around the world, but it's something that's in my face every day and I think it's a failure of our modern society.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#32

Post by yid »

pron wrote: post #29
yid wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh get off that pedestal. OP was talking about the Tenderloin. Have you ever walked through the Tenderloin? A large fraction of the homeless people there clearly have severe psychological or drug issues. They're not there because of the economy.

Maybe, but do you feel proud to live in a city where those unfortunates who have drug or "psychological" issues lie in the streets? It's shameful that you feel that those stricken by bad fortune should be left to rot out there.

> It's shameful that you feel that those stricken by bad fortune should be left to rot out there.

Where are you getting this from? I didn't imply it at all.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#33

Post by rhizome »

nperez wrote: post #5

My only advice is to provide socks too. Socks get gross and/or wet or hard if you can't easily wash them.. and they're not too expensive.

Absolutely. You can't do much with messed-up feet and body from dirty/wet/nonexistent socks and underwear. These discomforts strike to the core of basic human functioning.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#34

Post by joshdotsmith »

nickthemagicman wrote: post #14

OP after reading all the comments in this thread, I've determined that your idea for mercy and compassion is a flawed concept and is not good capitalism. What you should do instead is turn your web site into a bumfights startup!!! Make them fight to the death hunger games style for tons of swag. The profit potential is huge, the homeless population will be decreased, AND the leftover hobos will have tons of good swag…

I also wish I could downvote you into oblivion. You're mischaracterizing others to an extreme, and in such poor taste.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#35

Post by JumpCrisscross »

habosa wrote: post #31

In many discussions like this I see the argument that some/most/all homeless people are drug addicts or mentally ill or otherwise not deserving of help. I have always been of the opinion that I don't care why someone is homeless, I would like to help them. There is nobody that deserves to live on the street in a nation with as much wealth as America, even if they've made bad decisions (drugs, alcohol, crime, etc.). I…

>In many discussions like this I see the argument that some/most/all homeless people are drug addicts or mentally ill or otherwise not deserving of help.

I don't think the conclusion is drug addicts and the mentally ill don't deserve compassion. It is that trying to help the homeless while ignoring the drug and mental health issues is unlikely to be as productive as providing treatment options for the underlying causes.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#37

Post by SeckinJohn »

11001 wrote: post #28

Go out and talk to some social workers, figure out what tech could actually help with. This is just silly.

I would love to talk with more social workers/activists/organizations working on this and similar issues. Please feel free to send an email to me at seckincansahin@gmail.com

I have been iterating on this campaign for at least a month now according to feedback I have received from 50+ people in all walks of life, but I agree that there is still a huge room for improvement. And I would love to hear more about the campaigns that you think we could work on after this one.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#38

Post by dshanahan »

SeckinJohn wrote: post #37
11001 wrote: post #28

Go out and talk to some social workers, figure out what tech could actually help with. This is just silly.

I would love to talk with more social workers/activists/organizations working on this and similar issues. Please feel free to send an email to me at seckincansahin@gmail.com I have been iterating on this campaign for at least a month now according to feedback I have received from 50+ people in all walks of life, but I agree that there is still a huge room for improvement. And I would love to hear more about the campa…

I had a long coffee with HandUp's founder Rose Broome, who's done a boatload of legwork in this space (and just had Jason Calicanis ask to lead an investment round). Was intro'd to her product by a homeless guy in my hood and immediately had to know more. It's the first piece of tech that really wowed me with regards to making some headway on some of these issues - I'd highly encourage anyone who thinks about the space a lot to connect with her team. They're pretty responsive @handup on twitter.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#39

Post by losf »

robbrown451 wrote: post #24

It seems a bit like trying to fix the pigeon problem in the city by putting out pigeon food. The harsh reality is that the more accommodating to the homeless the city is, the more homeless there will be. I think there are solutions, and they can be compassionate, but simply making life easier for the homeless has long term drawbacks that are greater than the short term upsides.

I disagree. We should not make life more difficult than it is already for homeless people. We should provide them a path to integrate to society (access to shelters, bathrooms, education, medical and social help). Some homeless might grab the opportunity to leave homelessness, but let's not fool ourselves, some will remain homeless. The remaining homeless would be at least healthier and less outcast.

That will attract more homeless in SF, sure! (actually, some cities pay to send their homeless to SF already http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/09/11/2602391/san-franc...). But that is not a sufficient reason to not make what is right.

If every city in the Bay would do the same, there would less incentive for homeless to congregate in SF.

Re: Show HN: A website aiming to fix homelessness in SF

#40

Post by nickthemagicman »

yid wrote: post #16
nickthemagicman wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I AGREE! I'm sure every single person in the Tenderloin is there because they're just losers! That's why I'm proposing Bumfights. It could be an awesome startup. Pit them against each other Hunger Games style. Fuck those loser homeless.

You seem to be the only one in this thread calling them losers. I'm not sure where you're getting that from my comment.

No You're right! I know you weren't implying that the homeless should LOSE out on OP's offer due to detrimental qualities like "psychological or drug issues".

Indeed, these are WINNING qualities!

That's why I think we should name our bum fighters after their winning qualities.

Find out which winning quality is the best!!

(But you know you would bet on 'Junkie' Bob over 'Lazy Hammock' Steve any day.)

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